Material · Engineering Plastics
PEI (Ultem 1000)
The thinking engineer's high-performance pick: amber-transparent, flame-rated, autoclavable — at half the PEEK price.
Price index: $$$$
Machinability
3/5
Corrosion resistance
4/5
Strength
110 MPa
Value for money
$$$$
Material properties
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Tensile strength | 110 MPa |
| Yield strength | ~105 MPa |
| Hardness | M109 (Rockwell) |
| Density | 1.27 g/cm³ |
Choose it when
You priced PEEK and flinched: PEI gives 170 °C continuous service, inherent flame resistance, repeated autoclaving and the highest strength of the amber polymers at roughly half the cost.
Look elsewhere when
Service exceeds ~170 °C, chlorinated solvents are present, or impact toughness matters — PEI is notch-sensitive. Step to PEEK for chemistry and heat, PPSU for impact plus sterilization.
Typical applications
- Reusable, steam-sterilizable medical device parts
- Aircraft interior components (FST-rated)
- Optical and sensor mounts with low outgassing
- High-temp electrical and semiconductor insulators
Compared with similar grades
| Property | PEI (Ultem 1000) | ABS | Polycarbonate (PC) | Nylon PA6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tensile strength | 110 MPa | 40 MPa | 66 MPa | 79 MPa (dry) |
| Yield strength | ~105 MPa | ~40 MPa | ~62 MPa | ~79 MPa (dry) |
| Hardness | M109 (Rockwell) | R105 (Rockwell) | R118 (Rockwell) | R119 (Rockwell, dry) |
| Density | 1.27 g/cm³ | 1.05 g/cm³ | 1.20 g/cm³ | 1.14 g/cm³ |
| Price index | $$$$ | $ | $ | $ |
| Machinability | 3/5 | 4/5 | 3/5 | 3/5 |
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